From Gangster to Teen Leader: Aaron’s Story

Walking in the shoes of a teenager these days is dramatic and difficult. It can only be a further challenge to grow up in a migrant and low-income environment with a dangerously high influence of street gang culture and no father at home. This is the world that 16-year-old Aaron grew up in and came to recognize as healthy and common.

Aaron resisted the temptations of gang activity until around the age of 14. He then began to vandalize public and private property and get in fights with other teens. Aaron’s allegiance to his gang-affiliated friends and neighborhood began to run so deep that his daily priority was to spend time in the streets with his comrades and his girlfriend. He felt such love and dedication for his neighborhood that he had his body reflect it through a widely visible tattoo on his left hand.

His world was becoming smaller every day. Without recognizing it, Aaron further alienated himself from the rest of society, which he already found socially and culturally confounding. Even more dangerous was how detached Aaron became from his family, which consisted of his humble mother working two jobs, an older brother and a younger sister. He had quickly invested his mind, heart and loyalty in a new family. This gangster lifestyle could have brought him much more serious pain and trouble if he had not been cited one day for vandalism. This non-violent crime was Aaron’s first offense and also his ticket to Teen Court and to expanding his world.

Aaron’s Teen Court hearing was not a pleasant experience for him, his Mother who observed, the judge, the jurors, or Teen Court staff. Aaron’s inability to express himself severely handicapped him when the Teen Court jury left the courtroom to deliberate. It was apparent through his demeanor, maturity and his delicate smile that Aaron was a great young man with a lot of heart. He was unable, however, to express any emotion, remorse or explanation for the choices he had been making most recently in his life.

His sentence was quite lengthy and he accepted it in stride and with his head held high. He was sentenced to complete 10 nights of jury duty, 35 hours of community service, a letter of apology to his distraught mother, and attend a Life Choices Class. His mother was referred to Parent Program classes.

Aaron ended up becoming a teen leader in the Teen Court program. He enjoyed participating on the teen jury so much that he completed his 10 mandated nights and then proceeded to attend six additional nights of jury duty for community service credit. He became an example of initiative, self-motivation, responsibility and organization. He arrived at all scheduled appointments early and communicated with Teen Court staff more often than any other client. Aaron was also exemplary in his comportment at the courthouse. His peers, Teen Court judges and staff alike appreciated his respectful composure and mature attitude. His participation on the jury was also stellar, as he became one of Teen Court’s most frequent case presenters and deliberation leaders.

His mother also benefited from, and thoroughly enjoyed, the services that she was offered. She not only completed the Parent Program, but she felt so comfortable and supported that she voluntarily attended two additional two-hour sessions. Throughout his three months in Teen Court, Aaron’s confidence grew, his smile was seen more frequently and his attendance in school was significantly improved. It was during his time in Teen Court that he was referred to a tattoo removal program and that his family supported his decision to leave the gang and move in with his Aunt and Uncle on the other side of town. Aaron began to have hope for his own future and his eyes expressed hunger for personal growth. Aaron now chose to walk down a different path where more open doors could welcome him.

Aaron came to understand why his offense may have appeared to be harmless at first, but also why it was just one instance in which his lifestyle would be putting his health, his family and his future in serious jeopardy. Both Aaron and his mother expressed their relief that he was caught when he was, and that his offense was one that did not immediately have him put behind bars or on probation. When Aaron completed the Teen Court program he stated that he would most definitely return to do more Jury Duty for community service hours for school. He was also just one week away from a complete and successful removal of his tattoo. Completing the Teen Court program so gracefully was a substantial accomplishment in his life. His next major goals, however were to find a good job, attend Santa Barbara City College and eventually move back in with his mother and his immediate family. Teen Court looks forward to welcoming Aaron back in any capacity to continue being a positive role model and inspiring our other teens.